First planning meeting for Car(e)free Streets

San Diego – The first meeting to plan for a car-free days event in San Diego will take place this Saturday, June 16th, 2012 at 3pm, at Lestat’s Coffee House on 3343 Adams Ave. From the Facebook event page:

This is a meeting of like minded individuals who would like to see a sunday parkways type event in San Diego. This would close down at least a three mile loop in San Diego neighborhoods twice a month for cyclists, skaters, and walkers—only no cars. Feel free to invite anyone who you think would be of help to our goals. This is to be the first of many meetings. The goal is to show up in mass with a clear and concise road map of what we want to do.

The effort is being spearheaded by Jeff Magnus, owner of a forthcoming 24/7 bike-coffeeshop in North Park. He has been spending the past week riding around town talking to bike shop owners, other businesses, organizations, and residents to build up sponsors and seek input.

There has been some interest since 2009 for car-free streets in San Diego, but nothing has materialized.

Come out and help make this happen!
Imagine car-free streets in San Diego where kids would be safe to run around and play, where cyclists and skaters can ride and skate without worry, where people can walk and run without noise and smog from cars.

About Dianne Yee

Dianne is an Urban Studies & Planning student at UC San Diego. She grew up in Berkeley where she could easily skateboard, walk, or take public transportation to get around. Transplanted in San Diego, she resists the "need" for a car. Her hope is to transform Southern California into a sustainable, more people-friendly place.

In her third year of studies, Dianne spent a semester in Berlin. She took the U- and S-Bahn, the city's extensive public transit system, every day. She has travelled to several other European cities as well, including Copenhagen, Amsterdam, and Helsinki. As she explored these cities, she grew more interested in urban planning and the future of cities.

She is especially interested in transportation, infill development, and more broadly: smart growth. Dianne now lives in Hillcrest and rides her bike around town. Her citymaus blog is updated regularly with urban planning-related issues in San Diego, the Bay Area, and all around the world.